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EU top court advocate general says Polish court law is against treaties

WARSAW, Dec 15 (Reuters) - A Polish law from 2019 on disciplining judges is against European Union treaties, the advocate general of the bloc's top court said on Thursday. The…

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UPDATED: Poland holds up EU deal on minimum corporate tax, aid for Ukraine

By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Poland was on Thursday holding up the European Union's formal adoption of a minimum corporate tax for large companies which, as part…

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UPDATED: EU leaders head for tussle over rescue plans for industry

BRUSSELS, Dec 15 (Reuters) - European Union leaders will argue on Thursday over how to prop up their countries' industries, which have been whacked by soaring energy prices since the…

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UPDATED: We first need to know all the facts, France’s Macron says on Qatar corruption probe

By Philip Blenkinsop and Charlotte Campenhout Year-long, pan-EU investigation into MEPs Graft scandal rocks European Parliament Raids uncover suitcase, briefcases stacked with cash MEP Kaili's detention hearing pushed to Dec.22…

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Sakharov Prize 2022: European Parliament honours the Ukrainian People

Parliament’s 2022 Sakharov Prize was awarded to the brave People of Ukraine, in a ceremony on 14 December.They were represented by their president, elected leaders and civil society at the…

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EU should loosen green tech state aid rules – von der Leyen

By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed to EU leaders on Wednesday a loosening of state aid rules in renewable energy…

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EU Commission says Italian 2023 draft budget is in line with EU rules

BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - Italy's draft 2023 budget draft is overall in line with policies agreed by EU governments in July, the European Commission said on Wednesday, but noted…

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EU agrees €20 bln boost for energy funding to quit Russian gas

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The European Union will raise an extra 20 billion euros from its carbon market for investments to help end more swiftly the…

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ECB sees inflation above target through 2025, source says

By Francesco Canepa and Balazs Koranyi FRANKFURT, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The European Central Bank expects inflation to remain above its 2% target for the next three years, one source…

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The Sakharov Prize awarded to the brave people of Ukraine

Ukraine was officially presented with the Sakharov Prize on Wednesday following a decision by the European Parliament’s Conference of Presidents. This year’s prize-winner was in October announced by European Parliament President Roberta…

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Judge to decide on detention of EU-Qatar graft scandal suspects

By Philip Blenkinsop and Johnny Cotton BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - A three-judge panel will decide on Wednesday whether four suspects charged and arrested in a fraud scandal rocking the…

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EU seeks firm words on Russia at first summit with ASEAN

BRUSSELS, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The European Union and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) meet for their first summit on Wednesday to deepen economic ties, with European leaders…

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Factbox: The European Parliament’s cash-for-influence scandal

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgian authorities have charged four people linked to the European Parliament over allegations World Cup host Qatar lavished them with cash and gifts to influence decision-making. RAIDS…

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EU member states agree to give Bosnia EU candidate status -diplomats

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union general affairs ministers agreed on Tuesday that Bosnia should become a formal candidate to join the 27-nation EU in a recommendation that will have to…

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UPDATE – EU delays decision on natural gas price cap, countries still at odds

BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - European Union energy ministers meeting in Brussels on Tuesday failed to strike a final deal on a bloc-wide cap on natural gas prices, after months of debate…

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EU to consult on easier state aid rules to counter U.S. subsidy law

BRUSSELS, Dec 13 (Reuters) - The European Commission is seeking feedback on whether the 27-country bloc needs to loosen state aid rules to allow governments to support companies affected by the U.S.…

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EU strikes deal on world-first carbon border tariff

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - After all-night negotiations, the European Union struck a political deal on Tuesday to impose a carbon dioxide emissions tariff on imports of polluting goods such as steel…

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EU agrees adding names to Russia sanctions list, but no deal yet on sanctions package

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers agreed in principle on Monday to add about 200 Russian people and groups to a sanctions list, even if a whole ninth package…

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UPDATE – ‘European democracy under attack,’ says EU parliament president

European Parliament President Roberta Metsola condemned alleged corruption claims in an address to the plenary on Monday in Strasbourg, France. "Make no mistake, the European Parliament, dear colleague, is under…

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Qatar graft probe damages European Parliament, EU ministers say

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Union's credibility is at stake, EU foreign ministers warned on Monday, following allegations Qatar lavished cash and gifts on European Parliament officials to influence decision-making. Greece…

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EU could face gas shortage next year, IEA warns

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - The European Union has enough gas for the winter but could face a shortage next year if Russia cuts supplies further, the International Energy…

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EU wrangles with Hungary over Ukraine aid, tax plan as billions at risk

By Gabriela Baczynska BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - Germany pointedly reminded Hungary on Monday of the importance of the European Union's democratic values as the bloc threatens to keep billions from Budapest…

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UPDATE – EU tops up Ukraine’s arms fund, discusses Russia, Iran sanctions

By Sabine Siebold and Ingrid Melander BRUSSELS, Dec 12 (Reuters) - European Union foreign ministers agreed on Monday to put another 2 billion euros ($2.1 billion) into a fund that has been…

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EU’s Borrell: Belgium’s European Parliament corruption probe is “very worrisome”

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Belgium's decision to charge four people over allegedly receiving money and gifts from a Gulf state to influence decisions in the European Parliament is "very worrisome," European…

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EU watchdog warns on waning effectiveness of antibody COVID drugs

(Reuters) - The European Union's health regulator raised concerns over the decreasing effectiveness of COVID-19 antibody therapies to treat patients as emerging virus variants are challenging treatment approaches. The World…

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UPDATED: EP Vice-President Eva Kaili charged in connection with Qatar corruption scandal

A Belgian judge charged four people on Sunday over allegedly receiving money and gifts from a Gulf state to influence decisions in the European Parliament, accusations that have caused consternation…

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Generators of Hope – Генератори надії

Article by Roberta Metsola, EP President. Війна в Україні триває без упину. Щодня ми чуємо про нові жорстокості, здавалося б, невибіркових бомбардувань мирних жителів. Але також ми бачимо навмисні та…

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EU at odds over gas price cap as 12 countries criticise latest proposal

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - A dozen countries including Belgium, Italy, Poland and Slovenia have made a push to "significantly" lower a planned European Union cap on gas prices,…

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Spain’s Sanchez says EUMED will push for dynamic gas price cap

ALICANTE, Spain, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The leaders of the nine Mediterranean countries in the EU agreed on Friday to push for a dynamic cap on gas prices rather than a fixed…

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EU agrees Chile alliance to boost access to green raw materials

By Philip Blenkinsop BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The European Union and Chile struck a partnership on Friday that will liberalise more trade between the two and give EU companies…

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Euro zone banks must keep down stock of bad loans in downturn, ECB says

NICOSIA, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Euro zone banks are relatively healthy at the start of the economic downturn and a key priority will be to keep down the stock of…

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EU parliament aides, Gulf state probed over suspected graft

By Marine Strauss BRUSSELS, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Belgium launched an investigation on Friday examining possible corruption involving an unidentified Gulf state and assistants working in the European Parliament, the…

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UPDATED: Austria’s president criticises government for blocking Romania, Bulgaria Schengen entry

BERLIN, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen said on Friday that he regrets the Austrian government's decision to block Romania and Bulgaria from joining Europe's open-borders…

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Italy-Tunisia power line secures 307 mln euros of EU financing

ROME (Reuters) - The European Union will support the underwater power line project between Italy and Tunisia with around 307 million euros ($324 million) of funding, Italian power grid operator…

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Germany, Netherlands set out red lines on EU gas price cap

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Six European Union countries, including Germany and the Netherlands, have warned that they cannot accept other member states' attempts to lower further…

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EU states to top up fund used for Ukraine arms purchases by 2 bln euros

BRUSSELS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - European Union countries will replenish a fund that has been used to pay for military support for Ukraine with another 2 billion euros ($2.10 billion),…

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Google must remove ‘manifestly inaccurate’ data, EU top court says

By Foo Yun Chee LUXEMBOURG, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Alphabet unit Google must remove data from online search results if users can prove it is inaccurate, Europe's top court said…

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European defence spend topped 200 bln euros in 2021 for first time -EDA

BRUSSELS, Dec 8 (Reuters) - European defence spending topped 200 billion euros for the first time in 2021, the European Defence Agency (EDA) said on Thursday, accounting for 1.5% of…

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UPDATED: Germany wants Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania to join Schengen

BERLIN, Dec 8 (Reuters) - Germany supports bids by Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania to join the Schengen area, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said in Brussels on Thursday, adding that…

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EP President Metsola fears EU trade war with U.S.

The EU must avoid the "slippery road" of protectionism as it enters a fractious industrial showdown with the United States, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola told POLITICO in an interview.…

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EU agrees law to make airlines pay more to pollute

By Kate Abnett BRUSSELS, Dec 7 (Reuters) - The European Union reached a deal in the early hours of Wednesday on a law to increase the price that airlines have to pay…

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EU regulators raise concerns over Meta’s targeted ad model – WSJ

Dec 6 (Reuters) - European Union regulators have ruled Meta Platforms Inc META.O should not require users to agree to personalized ads based on their digital activity, the Wall Street journal reported on Tuesday,…

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EU countries’ stance on AI rules draws criticism from lawmaker, consumer group

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS, Dec 6 (Reuters) - EU countries on Tuesday agreed a common position on draft artificial intelligence rules ahead of negotiations with EU lawmakers to thrash out the…

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EU seeks to reassure Western Balkans on accession amid fears of Russia influence

By Fatos Bytyci and Sabine Siebold TIRANA, Dec 6 (Reuters) - A summit of European Union and Western Balkan leaders yielded few concrete steps on the region's future in the wealthy EU…

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German court dismisses challenge to 750 billion euro EU recovery fund

Germany's constitutional court on Tuesday threw out a legal challenge against the European Union's 750-billion-euro ($786 billion) recovery fund, which saw the bloc take on joint debt to help member…

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EU says making sustainability rules easier to apply is a top priority

Making it easier to apply the European Union 'taxonomy' for classifying sustainable activities and investments to inform investors is now a top priority, the bloc's financial services chief Mairead McGuinness said…

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Bulgaria presses doubters before vote on Schengen zone entry

Bulgarian Prime Minister Galab Donev on Monday said the Netherlands was opposing Bulgaria's bid to join the EU's passport-free Schengen travel region, ahead of a meeting of Europe's home affairs…

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EU’s Gentolini: We will have a recession this winter

Europe will fall into a recession this winter and growth will not return before spring, European Economy Commissioner Paolo Gentiloni said on Monday. "We will have a recession this winter,"…

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ECB likely to raise rates by 50 bps next week

The European Central Bank is likely to raise interest rates by 50 basis points (bps) next week on the way to potentially moving beyond a deposit rate of 3% amid ongoing…

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EP reaches deal on new rules to protect consumers from taking on too much debt

MEPs have reached a provisional deal with Council on new measures protecting consumers from credit card debt, overdrafts and loans unsuitable for their financial situation. Negotiators from Parliament and Council…

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All EU governments complete approval of Russian oil price cap

By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS, Dec 3 (Reuters) - All European Union governments completed on Saturday the written approval of a $60 per barrel price cap on Russian seaborne oil, the European Commission…

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EXPLAINER: ECB to start offloading debt to fight inflation

FRANKFURT (Reuters) - The European Central Bank is all but certain to start offloading some of its 5 trillion euro ($5.3 trillion) bond stash next year as it ramps up…

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ECB’s Lagarde warns some fiscal policies in Europe could fuel excess demand

BANGKOK (Reuters) - European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde warned on Friday that some European governments' fiscal policies could lead to excess demand, and that fiscal and monetary policies need…

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The Netherlands poised to say no to Bulgaria’s accession to the Schengen zone

The Netherlands will support Romania and Croatia’s accession to the Schengen zone at next week’s meeting in Brussels but will say no to Bulgaria, ministers decided at Friday’s cabinet meeting.…

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Glyphosate license in EU extended to end of 2023

The European Commission Friday extended the EU authorization for the use of herbicide glyphosate until the end of 2023, according to Commission officials. The authorization had been due to expire…

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EU to allow calls on flights

Airline passengers in the European Union (EU) will soon be able to use their phones to full effect in the sky. The European Commission ruled airlines can provide 5G technology…

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Germany, others demand clarity on EU plan on telco network costs

By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Germany and five other countries joined in a debate that has drawn support and opposition from interest groups as they asked the European…

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